With the BMW 5 Series starting at around $50,000, the top hand M550i xDrive slots in at $73,900 with plenty of optional and customization packages to add on. With familiar competition all around including Mercedes's AMG E 43, the Audi S6, and the Cadillac CTS V-Sport, the M550i holds its own with its powerful driving dynamics and old-school BMW finesse.
When selecting the perfect 5 Series model, one can start by narrowing down your price range and performance needs. To be precise, the BMW 5 Series is available in five trims (530i, 530e, 540i, 540d, and M550i). Each is accompanied by a distinct powertrain. Starting prices ranging from $52,650 to $102,600. All 5 Series sedans come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
With the 5 Series starting at around $50,000, the top hand M550i Xdrive slots in at $73,900 with plenty of optional and customization packages to add on. With familiar competition all around including Mercedes’s E43 AMG, the Audi S6, and the Cadillac CTS V-Sport, the M550i holds its own with its powerful driving dynamics and old-school BMW finesse.
2018 BMW M550i front angle view
2018 BMW M550i rear angle view
8.0/10 Pricing and Features
6.6/10 Engine and Performance
6.6/10 Fuel Economy
8.5/10 Interior
6.6/10 Exterior
8.0/10 Competition
2018 BMW M550i Pricing and Features
8.0/10
When selecting the perfect 5 Series model, one can start by narrowing down your price range and performance needs. To be precise, the BMW 5 Series is available in five trims (530i, 530e, 540i, 540d, and M550i). Each is accompanied by a distinct powertrain. Starting prices ranging from $52,650 to $102,600. All 5 Series sedans come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Trim
BMW M550i xDrive Sedan
MSRP
$73,900
Features
Front Seatback Storage
Cruise Control yes
Leather Steering Wheel
Keyless Ignition
Climate Control
Dual Illuminating Vanity Mirrors
Front And Rear Cupholders
Electrochromic Inside Rearview Mirror
Front And Rear Door Pockets
Front And Rear Parking Sensors
Universal Remote Transmitter (For Garage Door, Security System, Etc.
Transmission, Cruise, and Audio Controls On Steering Wheel
Interior Air Filtration
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling
Anthracite Alcantara Headliner
Power Rear Sunshade W/Manual Rear Side Window Shades
Heated Front Seats
Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System
2018 BMW M550i Buying Advice
$73,900 for the BMW M550i is quite a steal, complete with a twin-turbo 456-horsepower V8 and all-wheel drive. Other standard features include an adaptive M Sports suspension, M Sports brakes, parking sensors, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system, and a power trunk lid.
2018 BMW M550i Engine and Performance
6.6/10
For the segment and price range, the BMW's engine is quite close to perfection. The beasty 4.4L Twin-Turbocharged V8 gives a power of 456 hp and generates an unmatched 480 lb-ft of torque. it all goes through an 8-speed ZF automatic gear arrangement. This car comes standard with all-wheel-drive which gives good traction to go all the way with power. When revving up, the engine also gives out a very comforting and sporty sound.
2018 BMW M550i engine
The suspension is slightly soft and despite the presence of adjustable dampers, it struggles to maintain body control over rougher road surfaces. One can also adjust how the car handles using the Driving Dynamics Control which offers three different modes including Eco Pro, Comfort, and Sport modes.
Models
BMW M550i xDrive
Audi S6
Mercedes-Benz AMG E 43
Cadillac CTS V-Sport
Starting MSRP
$73,900
$71,900
$71,600
$62,190
Engine
4.4L Turbocharged V8
4.0L Turbocharged V8
3.0L Turbocharged V6
3.6L Turbocharged V6
Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
7-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic
9-Speed Automatic
8-Speed Automatic
Power
456 hp
450 hp
396 hp
420 hp
Torque
480 lb-ft
406 lb-ft
384 lb-ft
430 lb-ft
As far as the competition goes, the BMW is right there at the top. The torque generation is by far the best in class and the power is comparable to Audi's S6. It may, however, be noted that the Mercedes-Benz AMG E 43 and the Cadillac CTS V-Sport have a V6 engine compared to the BMW's V8.
2018 BMW M550i Sedan Acceleration And Braking
In a nutshell, the BMW M550i xDrive is fast; and quick from the start too. It accelerates from 0-60mph in under four seconds. The only other sub-4 0-60mph car in the segment is Audi S6 at 3.9 seconds.
2018 BMW M550i hits 0-60 mph just in 3.8 sec
The fat yet sturdy steering wheel, a feature of M550 being a sports model, gives a good grip throughout the ride.
Models
BMW M550i xDrive
Audi S6
Mercedes-Benz AMG E 43
Cadillac CTS V-Sport
0-60 MPH
3.8 Seconds
3.9 Seconds
4.2 Seconds
4.5 Seconds
Quarter mile
12.3 Seconds @ 115 mph
12.4 Seconds @ 113 mph
12.8 Seconds @ 109 mph
12.9 Seconds @ 112 mph
Curb Weight(lbs)
3878
4497
4145
3992
60-0 MPH (ft.)
106
112
110
107
To accompany the impressive acceleration, BMW has done well with the M550i xDrive's deceleration as well. It comes to a halt from 60 mph in a comfortable 106 feet, which is believed to be the best braking distance when compared in its class. Audi S6, which has a comparable acceleration to the BMW, fares last in this comparison. It is the heaviest here, which works against it. The Cadillac is a little heavier than the Beemer, and a little sluggish in shedding speed as well.
2018 BMW M550i driving quality2018 BMW M550i driving quality2018 BMW M550i driving quality2018 BMW M550i driving quality2018 BMW M550i driving quality
2018 BMW M550i Fuel Economy
6.6/10
This is one of the few departments that the BMW M550i xDrive falls short in. The fuel economy of the car is well below par, especially in the city. The BMW rides only 16 mpg in the city. Despite having a respectable mileage on highways at 25, the combined fuel economy at 19 mpg is again the lowest in its segment.
Model
BMW M550i xDrive
Audi S6
Mercedes-Benz AMG E 43
Cadillac CTS V-Sport
MPG (City)
16
18
19
16
MPG (Highway)
25
27
25
24
MPG (Combined)
19
22
22
20
The Audi S6 fares quite well when fuel economy is concerned with the best mileage on highways at 27 mpg. Its city economy is also decent and only bettered by the Mercedes-Benz AMG E 43.
2018 BMW M550i Interior
8.5/10
It's a pleasure to spend time inside a 5 Series sedan with that familiar sophisticated aura. First-class materials are plentiful. Examples include synthetic or genuine leather trimming on the dash, and wood trims with a matte or gloss finish. The woodwork is abundant and quite pleasing. Build quality is similarly top-notch.
2018 BMW M550i seats
The plush leather upholstery gives the passengers that luxury ride with many convenience features such as rear cup-holders and 16-way adjustable front seats. To add to the many comfort features, the front seats are massaging and also heated. In the M550i xDrive, the rear seats are also heated.
Model
BMW M550i xDrive
Audi S6
Mercedes-Benz AMG E 43
Cadillac CTS V-Sport
Passenger capacity
5
5
5
5
Passenger Volume(ft cube)
98.8
98
N/A
97
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg)
38.8/58.7/41.4
37.2/57.5/41.3
37.9/57.8/41.3
40.4/56.9/45.7
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg)
37.5/55.9/36.5
37.8/56.3/37.4
38.2/56.9/35.8
37.5/54.8/35.4
Cruising refinement is almost too good to be true, with the M550i being no louder or harsher than a standard 5 Series. The overall acoustics of the cabin is also impressive with the passengers being comfortably isolated from the outside noises.
2018 BMW M550i Sedan Infotainment System
BMW iDrive system's clear graphics, logical organization, and easy-to-use control knob make it intuitive to navigate.
2018 BMW M550i infotainment system
A large, 10.2-inch high-resolution central display is standard on the M550i model and is controlled by BMW's signature iDrive rotary knob. Highlights of the Infotainment System are:
Harman Kardon Surround Sound Audio System with a powerful 600-watt amplifier
16-speaker system includes 7 tweeters, 7 midrange speakers, and 2 bass speakers
Real-time weather
Hand gesture control
4, 12-Volt outlets
2, USB ports
BMW iDrive system
2018 BMW M550i Sedan Cargo Capacity
The BMW M550i xDrive is head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to cargo volume. Its trunk has a very healthy capacity of 18.7 cubic feet which makes it ideal for various lifestyles. The storage inside the cabin, however, is limited with there being only a few storage pockets here and there namely the front arm-rest and the glove compartment.
Model
BMW M550i xDrive
Audi S6
Mercedes-Benz AMG E 43
Cadillac CTS V-Sport
Volume (ft cube)
18.7
14.1
13.1
13.7
The competition offers significantly less cargo space than the M550i, and as such, they are barely adequate for their size. A week's worth of groceries would be the entirety of the trunk.
2018 BMW M550i interior images2018 BMW M550i interior images2018 BMW M550i interior images2018 BMW M550i interior images2018 BMW M550i interior images
2018 BMW M550i Exterior
6.6/10
Despite having that V8 Turbocharged engine, the M550i xDrive is relatively light at just under 3900 pounds. The other dimensions of the M550i xDrive are standard with respect to the 5 Series with a rather substantial ground clearance of 5.1 inches. The BMW also has a fairly long wheelbase at just over 117 inches.
2018 BMW M550i three quarter view
Model
BMW M550i xDrive
Audi S6
Mercedes-Benz AMG E 43
Cadillac CTS V-Sport
Curb weight(lbs)
3878
4497
4145
3992
Length(in)
195.4
194.4
194.6
195.5
Width(in)
73.5
73.8
73.2
72.2
Height(in)
58.2
56.8
57
57.2
Ground clearance(in)
5.1
4.57
4.5
5.1
Wheelbase(in)
117.1
114.8
115.7
114.6
Track width(in) F/R
63/63.9
63.6/63.2
64.1/62.9
61.4/61.7
The other V8 car, Audi S6, being the heaviest of the lot at close to 4500 pounds. The CTS-V sport is the longest in size but by an insignificant margin. It also has over 5 inches of ground clearance, quite good for the segment.
2018 BMW M550i exterior images2018 BMW M550i exterior images2018 BMW M550i exterior images2018 BMW M550i exterior images2018 BMW M550i exterior images
2018 BMW M550i Safety
The M550i xDrive is fully loaded with safety features which is a welcome reassurance given its stature as one of the leading sports cum luxury sedans in the segment. Here are some standout features:
Adaptive Brake lights
Programmable LED Daytime Running Lights
Front and rear Head Protection System (HPS)
Driver's and passenger's front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS)
Dual-threshold, dual-stage deployment; and front-passenger-seat sensors designed to prevent unnecessary airbag deployment
3-point safety belts with force limiters and head restraints at all seating positions
Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags
Acoustic safety-belt warning
LATCH attachments for child-restraint safety installation
2018 BMW M550i Competition
8.0/10
BMW M550i vs Audi S6
Just like the M550i xDrive, the Audi S6 gets you the finest in German engineering, but it costs a few thousand dollars less. It has one of the nicest interiors among luxury midsize cars and outstanding performance. Additionally, it has a few more standard features than the BMW, including heated front seats and leather upholstery.
Audi S6
The Audi's ride can occasionally feel jarring over rough pavement, but it's mostly smooth. The engine designs are similar with both sporting 4L V8's and both delivering similar figures of power and torque. The major differences between the two are pretty much design-based.
BMW M550i vs Mercedes-Benz AMG E 43
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has a posh interior and a plethora of advanced safety technology, with available near-self-driving features. The M550i xDrive and the E43 are similarly priced. Still, the 5 Series is the better value. It delivers better all-around driving performance and rates higher for predicted reliability.
Mercedes-Benz AMG E 43
Engine and general performance wise the BMW is ahead with its Turbocharged V8 in comparison to the Mercedes' V6. One simply has to choose between sportiness and luxury when it comes down to these two.
BMW M550i vs Cadillac CTS V-Sport
The Cadillac CTS V-Sport is a substantial $10,000 cheaper than the BMW M550i xDrive yet it has respectable power and torque delivery. Its edgy and aerodynamic looks are a good competitor to BMW's repetitive exteriors. The Cadillac uses a V6 engine compared to the BMW's V8.
Cadillac CTS V-Sport
An engine control system that can shut down half of the engine's cylinders helps improve the CTS V6's fuel efficiency. The 5 Series Sedan doesn't offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.
2018 BMW M550i Final Verdict
Whether you are driving or being driven, the 2018 BMW M550i xDrive is a delight. Its engaging performance adds flavor to the chore of everyday driving. With its 4.4L V8 engine being the standout feature, it surely delivers the "ultimate driving experience". Inside, the cabin is replete with first-class materials and user-friendly technology, treating travelers to a quiet, comfortable ride. The starting price is higher than most in its segment, but it is nothing short of a bargain when compared to a dedicated sports model. Under six figures even when fully packed with add-ons, this automobile is worth every penny.
Sporty sedan that knows how to keep the driver happy by driving nimble in city and totally opposite on the highway. No pause when hitting the gas pedal
Sporty sedan that knows how to keep the driver happy by driving nimble in city and totally opposite on the highway. No pause when hitting the gas pedal
